AIFS Research - Research projects
Rural and Regional Families: The Impact of Drought and Economic and Social Change
- Duration: 2007 - ongoing
- Funding source(s): Appropriation
- Partner researcher(s): Dr Boyd Hunter, ANU; Professor David de Vaus, La Trobe University
- Related themes: Economic wellbeing of families**, Families and work*, Social inclusion*
- ** Indicates theme(s) to which the project is most relevant
* Indicates theme(s) to which the project has some relevance
Rural and Regional Families is a major study into the impact of drought and economic and social change on the wellbeing of families and communities in regional and rural Australia. The research reviews the effect of drought on families’ financial situation, standard of living, relationships, wellbeing, migration patterns, service availability, social capital and community cohesion.
The study involved interviews with about 8,000 people living in rural and regional areas. The research resulting from this project was used extensively by the Productivity Commission in their report on Drought Support Policy and the report of the Expert Panel on the Social Impacts of Drought. Research is this field is continuing through 2009–10.
Publications
- Edwards, B., Gray, M. & Hunter, B. (submitted). The impact of drought on mental health and anti-depressant use in rural and regional Australia. British Medical Journal.
- Edwards, B., Gray, M., & Hunter, B. (2009). A sunburnt country: The economic and financial impact of drought on rural and regional families in Australia in an era of climate change (PDF 624 KB). Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 12, 109–131.
- Hunter, B., & Biddle, N. (2009). Migration, labour demand, housing markets and the drought in regional Australia: Report to the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Submissions
- Edwards, B., Gray, M., & Hunter, B. (2008). Social and economic impacts of drought on farm families and rural communities: Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Government Drought Support. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
- Edwards, B., Gray, M., & Hunter, B. (2008). Social and economic impacts of drought on farm families and rural communities: Submission to the Drought Policy Review Expert Social Panel. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Presentations
- Edwards, B., Gray, M., and Hunter, B. (2009, 10 July). The impact of drought on mental health and alcohol use (PDF 6.5 MB). Presentation at the Australian Social Policy Conference: An Inclusive Society? Practicalities and Possibilities, Sydney.
- Edwards, B. (2008). Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me! The individual and family wellbeing of Australian and rural and regional families in drought. Presentation to Victorian Government Department of Primary Industries.
- Edwards, B., & Gray, M. (2008, 23 October). Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me! The individual and family wellbeing of Australian and rural and regional families in drought. AIFS Seminar Series, Melbourne.
- Edwards, B., Gray, M., Hunter, B., & De Vaus, D. (2008, 9–11 July). Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me! The individual and family wellbeing of Australian and rural and regional families in drought. 10th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne.